Reel

ABSTRACT

A reel is provided with a hub main body portion and a winding portion, on which a recording tape T is wound. The hub main body portion includes a main body periphery wall portion formed in a tubular shape and a cap portion provided at an upper end portion of the main body periphery wall portion. The winding portion is formed in a tubular shape, and the main body periphery wall portion is disposed inside the winding portion. An inner periphery face of the winding portion and an outer periphery face of the main body periphery wall portion are connected by a connection portion that protrudes to a radial direction inner side from the inner periphery face of the winding portion. A step portion is formed at the connection portion. The step portion, by resiliently deforming, displaces the winding portion to the main body periphery wall portion side thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP/2013/056028, filed Mar. 5, 2013, which isincorporated herein by reference. Further, this application claimspriority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-082922, filed Mar.30, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a reel on which a recording tape suchas a magnetic tape or the like is wound.

BACKGROUND ART

A reel hub is known (for example, see Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open (JP-A) No. H10-199195) that is provided with an upper flangeplate and a lower flange plate in a pair, and a reel hub that isintegrally formed at the lower flange plate.

The reel hub disclosed in JP-A No. H10-199195 includes: a centralportion in which a hub hole into which a rotary shaft can be inserted isformed; a tubular winding portion on which a magnetic tape is wound; anda reinforcing rib that connects the central portion with the windingportion.

It is disclosed in JP-A No. H10-199195 that an annular deformationabsorption groove is formed in the lower flange plate along an outerperiphery face of the winding portion. A resilient deformation of thewinding portion that causes the winding portion to tilt toward thecentral portion, which is caused by winding pressure of the magnetictape, is absorbed by this deformation absorption groove. Thus,deformation of the lower flange plate is suppressed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Subject

However, in the reel hub disclosed in JP-A No. H10-199195, when thewinding portion is tilted to the central portion side thereof by thewinding pressure of the magnetic tape, the central portion is pressed,via the reinforcing rib, to the radial direction inner side thereof. Asa result, a ceiling wall portion of the central portion of the reel hubis deformed, and relative positions of the ceiling wall portion and thewinding portion may be offset in the axial direction of the windingportion. That is, when the ceiling wall portion of the central portionof the reel hub deforms, the reel hub as a whole may shift in the axialdirection. Consequently, the winding portion is displaced in the axialdirection relative to magnetic tape being supplied to the windingportion, which may cause a change in a running position of the magnetictape in a drive, or offset winding or the like.

In consideration of the circumstances described above, an object of thepresent invention is to provide a reel that may suppress an offsetbetween relative positions of a cap portion and a winding portion of ahub main body portion in the axial direction of the winding portion.

Solution Addressing Subject

A reel according to a first aspect of the present invention has: a hubmain body portion that includes a main body periphery wall portionformed in a tubular shape and a cap portion provided at one side in anaxial direction of the main body periphery wall portion; a windingportion that is formed in a tubular shape, inside which the main bodyperiphery wall portion is disposed, and on an outer periphery face ofwhich a recording tape is wound; a connection portion that protrudes toa radial direction inner side from an inner periphery face of thewinding portion and that connects the winding portion with an outerperiphery face of the main body periphery wall portion; and adeformation absorption portion that is formed at the connection portionand that, by resiliently deforming, displaces the winding portion to aside thereof at which the main body periphery wall portion is disposed.

According to the reel in accordance with the first aspect, when theouter periphery face of the winding portion is pressed to the sidethereof at which the main body periphery wall portion of the hub mainbody portion is disposed, by a winding pressure of the recording tapethat is at least a certain value, the deformation absorption portionformed at the connection portion resiliently deforms and the windingportion displaces to the main body periphery wall portion side thereof.Thus, deformation of the main body periphery wall portion to the radialdirection inner side thereof is suppressed, and consequently deformationof the cap portion of the hub main body portion is suppressed. As aresult, an offset of the relative positions of the cap portion and thewinding portion in the axial direction of the winding portion issuppressed. Hence, a change in a running position of the recording tapeis suppressed and offset winding of the recording tape relative to theouter periphery face of the winding portion is suppressed.

In a reel according to a second aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to the first aspect, the connection portion is connectedwith the main body periphery wall portion at a position that is offsetrelative to the cap portion in the axial direction of the main bodyperiphery wall portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the second aspect, theconnection portion is connected to the main body periphery wall portionat a position that is offset in the axial direction of the main bodyperiphery wall portion relative to the cap portion. Therefore, thewinding pressure of the recording tape is inputted via the connectionportion to the main body periphery wall portion at the position that isoffset in the axial direction of the main body periphery wall portionfrom the cap portion. Accordingly, the main body periphery wall portiondeforms more easily than in a case in which the connection portion wereconnected to the main body periphery wall portion at a position that isnot offset in the axial direction of the main body periphery wallportion relative to the cap portion. Hence, the cap portion deforms moreeasily. The present invention is particularly effective for a structurein which the cap portion deforms easily in such a manner.

In a reel according to a third aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to the first aspect or the second aspect, the connectionportion includes an outer side protrusion portion that protrudes to theradial direction inner side from the inner periphery face of the windingportion, and an inner side protrusion portion that protrudes to theradial direction outer side from the outer periphery face of the mainbody periphery wall portion, and the deformation absorption portion is astep portion at which the inner side protrusion portion is disposed toone side in the axial direction of the main body periphery wall portionrelative to the outer side protrusion portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the third aspect, when theouter periphery face of the winding portion is pressed to the main bodyperiphery wall portion side thereof by a winding pressure of therecording tape that is at least a certain value, the winding portion isdisplaced to the main body periphery wall portion side by the stepportion formed at the connection portion resiliently deforming. Thus,deformation of the main body periphery wall portion to the radialdirection inner side thereof is suppressed, and consequently deformationof the cap portion of the hub main body portion is suppressed. As aresult, an offset of the relative positions of the cap portion and thewinding portion in the axial direction of the winding portion issuppressed.

In a reel according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to the third aspect, at the step portion, the inner sideprotrusion portion is disposed at a side at which an opening of the mainbody periphery wall portion is disposed relative to the outer sideprotrusion portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the fourth aspect, since thestep portion is provided, the inner side protrusion portion of theconnection portion is disposed, relative to the outer side protrusionportion, at the side at which the opening of the main body peripherywall portion is disposed. Thus, when the outer periphery face of thewinding portion is pressed to the main body periphery wall portion sidethereof by a winding pressure of the recording tape that is at least acertain value, the step portion resiliently deforms so as to tilt towardthe main body periphery wall portion, with a joining portion between thestep portion and the inner side protrusion portion, which is disposed atthe main body periphery wall portion opening side, acting as a fulcrum.

In this case, when the winding portion presses the main body peripherywall portion to the radial direction inner side thereof via theconnection portion, a moment that causes the main body periphery wallportion to tilt to the radial direction inner side with a joiningportion with the cap portion acting as a fulcrum (hereinafter referredto as an inner side moment) acts on the main body periphery wallportion. Meanwhile, when the step portion resiliently deforms asdescribed above, a moment that causes the main body periphery wallportion to tilt to the radial direction outer side (the winding portionside) thereof with the joining portion with the cap portion acting as afulcrum (hereinafter referred to as an outer side moment) acts on themain body periphery wall portion. The inner side moment is counteractedby the outer side moment. Thus, deformation of the main body peripherywall portion to the radial direction inner side is further suppressed.

In a reel according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to the fourth aspect, the inner side protrusion portionprotrudes to the radial direction outer side from an end portion of themain body periphery wall portion at the side thereof at which theopening is disposed.

According to the reel in accordance with the fifth aspect, the innerside protrusion portion protrudes to the radial direction outer sidefrom an opening side end portion of the main body periphery wallportion. Therefore, compared with a structure in which the inner sideprotrusion portion protrudes to the radial direction outer side from aposition that is offset toward the cap portion from the opening side endportion of the main body periphery wall portion, a length of the stepportion in the axial direction of the main body periphery wall portionmay be secured to be long even with an axial direction thickness of thereel as a whole being reduced. Hence, the step portion resilientlydeforms more easily to the main body periphery wall portion side withthe joining portion between the step portion and the inner sideprotrusion portion acting as a fulcrum. Therefore, deformation of themain body periphery wall portion to the radial direction inner side isfurther suppressed.

In a reel according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to the third aspect, at the step portion, the inner sideprotrusion portion is disposed at the side at which the cap portion isdisposed relative to the outer side protrusion portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the sixth aspect, since thestep portion is provided, the inner side protrusion portion of theconnection portion is disposed toward the cap portion of the hub mainbody portion relative to the outer side protrusion portion. Thus, thestructure of the opening side of the main body periphery wall portion issimplified.

In a reel according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to the first aspect or the second aspect, the connectionportion includes an outer side protrusion portion that protrudes to theradial direction inner side from the inner periphery face of the windingportion, and an inner side protrusion portion that protrudes to theradial direction outer side from the outer periphery face of the mainbody periphery wall portion, and the deformation absorption portion is awall-shaped portion that is disposed between the winding portion and themain body peripheral wall portion with a length direction of thedeformation absorption portion along the axial direction of the mainbody periphery wall portion, one end side in the length direction of thedeformation absorption portion being connected to the winding portionvia the outer side protrusion portion, and the other end side in thelength direction being connected to the main body periphery wall portionvia the inner side protrusion portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the seventh aspect, when theouter periphery face of the winding portion is pressed to the main bodyperiphery wall portion side thereof by a winding pressure of therecording tape that is at least a certain value, the winding portion isdisplaced to the main body periphery wall portion side by thewall-shaped portion formed at the connection portion resilientlydeforming. Thus, deformation of the main body periphery wall portion tothe radial direction inner side thereof is suppressed, and consequentlydeformation of the cap portion of the hub main body portion issuppressed. As a result, an offset of the relative positions of the capportion and the winding portion in the axial direction of the windingportion is suppressed.

In a reel according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the outerside protrusion portion protrudes to the radial direction inner sidefrom a central portion in an axial direction of the winding portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the eighth aspect, the outerside protrusion portion of the connection portion protrudes to theradial direction inner side from the central portion in the axialdirection of the winding portion. In other words, the axial directioncentral portion of the winding portion is supported at the main bodyperiphery wall portion via the connection portion. Thus, when the outerperiphery face of the winding portion is pressed to the main bodyperiphery wall portion side thereof by the winding pressure of therecording tape, each of two end sides in the axial direction of thewinding portion flexes to the main body periphery wall portion sidethereof with the axial direction central portion of the winding portionacting as a fulcrum. Therefore, an imbalance in flexing amounts of thetwo end sides in the axial direction of the winding portion is reduced.Hence, offset winding of the recording tape toward one axial directionside of the winding portion is suppressed.

In a reel according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to any one of the third to eighth aspects, the stepportion extends in an annular shape along the outer periphery face ofthe main body periphery wall portion.

According to the reel in accordance with the ninth aspect, because thestep portion extends in the annular shape along the outer periphery faceof the main body periphery wall portion, deformation of the main bodyperiphery wall portion to the radial direction inner side is suppressedover the whole circumference of the main body periphery wall portion.

In a reel according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in thereel according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, a positioningportion that positions the hub main body portion relative to a casingthat accommodates the hub main body portion is formed at the capportion.

According to the reel in accordance with the tenth aspect, thepositioning portion that positions the hub main body portion relative tothe casing is formed at the cap portion. Thus, a positional offset ofthe hub main body portion relative to the casing is suppressed due todeformation of the cap portion being suppressed.

In a reel according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, inthe reel according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, anaccommodation portion that accommodates a motor that drives to rotatethe hub main body portion is formed inside the main body periphery wallportion.

According to the reel in accordance with the eleventh aspect, becausethe motor that drives to rotate the hub main body portion isaccommodated in the accommodation portion formed at the interior of themain body periphery wall portion of the hub main body portion, a casingin which the reel is accommodated and suchlike may be reduced inthickness.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described hereabove, according to a reel in accordance with thepresent invention, an offset of relative positions of a cap portion andwinding portion of a hub main body portion in the axial direction of thewinding portion may be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a reel inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention isintegrated in a drive device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the reel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a vertical section cut along anaxial direction of the reel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view in which the reel shown in FIG. 1 is seen from anupper flange side thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to a section cut along line 5-5in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 5, that shows aconnection portion of a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 5, that shows aconnection portion of a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a couplingportion between an upper flange and a lower flange in a fourth exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a sectional view, corresponding to a partial magnification ofFIG. 3, illustrating an analytical model of a reel relating to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a sectional view, corresponding to a partial magnification ofFIG. 3, showing an analytical model of a reel relating to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, corresponding to a partial magnification ofFIG. 3, showing an analytical model of a reel relating to a ComparativeExample; and

FIG. 11 is a graph showing analysis results of the analytical modelsrelating to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and theComparative Example.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Herebelow, reels according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention are described with reference to the attached drawings. Forconvenience in the descriptions, the arrow UP in FIG. 1 represents anupward direction, the arrow DO represents a downward direction, and arotation axis direction of reels 10 and 20 according to the presentexemplary embodiments is referred to as an up-and-down direction (orheight direction).

A first exemplary embodiment is described.

The reels 10 and 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment arefabricated of a synthetic resin such as, for example, polycarbonate(PC). As shown in FIG. 1, the reels 10 and 20 are provided as a pairinside a casing 52 of a drive device 50 (of which only a floor plate 54and three support pillars 56 are shown in FIG. 1).

The reel 10 is used for feeding out a recording tape T, whereas the reel20 is used for taking up the recording tape T. While the recording tapeT fed out from the reel 10 is being taken up onto the reel 20, therecording tape T slides against the recording/replay head 60. Thus, datais recorded on the recording tape T by the recording/replay head 60and/or data that has been recorded at the recording tape T is read.

A plural number (four in the drawing, in sets of two) of tape guides 58are rotatably provided on the floor plate 54 at both sides of therecording/replay head 60. The recording tape T being unwound from thereel 10 and taken up at the reel 20 is guided by the tape guides 58.

The reels 10 and 20 are structured with reel hubs 12 and 22, upperflanges 14 and 24, and lower flanges 16 and 26. The reel hubs 12 and 22structure axial central portions of the reels 10 and 20. The upperflanges 14 and 24 have annular shapes and are provided at upper endsides of the reel hubs 12 and 22. The lower flanges 16 and 26 haveannular shapes and are provided at lower end sides of the reel hubs 12and 22.

The recording tape T, which is a magnetic tape or the like and serves asan information recording and replaying medium, is wound round the outerperiphery face of the reel hub 12 of the reel 10. When the reel 10 isdriven to rotate in a predetermined direction, the recording tape Twound onto the outer periphery face of the reel hub 12 is fed out towardthe reel 20 while being guided by the upper flange 14 and the lowerflange 16. The reel 20 is driven to rotate in the same direction as thereel 10. The recording tape T that has been fed out from the reel 10 istaken up onto the outer periphery face of the reel hub 22 of the reel 20while being guided by the upper flange 24 and the lower flange 26 of thereel 20.

The structures of the reel 10 and the reel 20 are identical.Accordingly, the reel 10 is taken as an example and described below, anddescriptions of the reel 20 are not given. As shown in FIG. 2, the reelhub 12 includes a hub main body portion 70, a tubular winding portion 80provided at an outer periphery of the hub main body portion 70, and aconnection portion 90 that connects the hub main body portion 70 withthe winding portion 80.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hub main body portion 70 includes a tubular mainbody periphery wall portion 72 and a disc-shaped cap portion (a ceilingwall portion) 74. The main body periphery wall portion 72 is disposedwith the axial direction thereof in the up-and-down direction. The capportion 74 is provided at an upper end portion of the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 and closes an opening in the upper end side(one axial direction end side) of the main body periphery wall portion72. An accommodation portion S is formed inside the main body peripherywall portion 72. A motor 18 that serves as a drive source (see FIG. 5),which is provided at the drive device 50, is accommodated in theaccommodation portion S. An opening 76 is formed at the lower end (theother axial direction side) of the main body periphery wall portion 72.The motor 18 can be accommodated into the accommodation portion Sthrough the opening 76. Herein, the cap portion 74 may be provided atthe upper end side of the main body periphery wall portion 72, and isnot limited to the upper end of the main body periphery wall portion 72.

A boss portion 78 is formed at a central portion (a rotation centerportion) of the cap portion 74. The boss portion 78 projects from bothan upper face and a lower face of the cap portion 74. A radial directionpositioning hole 40 is formed in the boss portion 78. The radialdirection positioning hole 40 penetrates through the boss portion 78 inthe up-and-down direction and serves as a positioning portion. A radialdirection positioning pin that serves as a positioning portion at acasing side, which is not shown in the drawings, is provided at themotor 18. By the positioning pin being inserted (fitted) into the radialdirection positioning hole 40, the hub main body portion 70 is disposedcoaxially with a rotary shaft of the motor 18, and the hub main bodyportion 70 is positioned in the radial direction with respect to therotary shaft of the motor 18.

A lower face of the boss portion 78 serves as an axial directionpositioning surface (an axial direction reference surface) 78A thatserves as a positioning portion for positioning the reel 10 in theup-and-down direction (the axial direction) relative to the casing 52 ofthe drive device 50. An axial direction positioning surface that servesas a positioning portion at a casing side, which is not shown in thedrawing, is provided at the motor 18. In the state in which theabove-mentioned radial direction positioning pin is inserted into theradial direction positioning hole 40, the axial direction positioningsurface 78A is abutted against the axial direction positioning surfaceprovided at the motor 18. Thus, the reel 10 is positioned in theup-and-down direction (the axial direction) relative to the casing 52 ofthe drive device 50.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plural number (three in the present exemplaryembodiment) of screw holes 36 are formed in the cap portion 74. Thescrew holes 36 penetrate through the cap portion 74 in the platethickness direction thereof. The plural screw holes 36 are formedequidistantly on a concentric circumference of the cap portion 74. Arotary flange (not shown in the drawings) that serves as a rotary memberis integrally provided at the rotary shaft of the motor 18. The rotaryflange is fastened to the cap portion 74 by screws, not shown in thedrawings, that are inserted into the screw holes 36. Thus, the rotaryshaft of the motor 18 and the hub main body portion 70 are madeintegrally rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 5, the winding portion 80 is disposed around the mainbody periphery wall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70. Therecording tape T (see FIG. 1) is wound on an outer periphery face (awinding face) 80A of the winding portion 80. The winding portion 80 isformed in a tubular shape, and is disposed with the axial directionthereof in the up-and-down direction. The main body periphery wallportion 72 of the hub main body portion 70 is disposed inside (at theinner side) of the winding portion 80. The winding portion 80 and themain body periphery wall portion 72 are connected by the connectionportion 90.

The meaning of the term “tubular” as used in the present exemplaryembodiment is not strictly limited to a circular tube shape but includessubstantially circular tube shapes that are formed in cylindrical shapesoverall.

The connection portion 90 is formed in an annular shape as a whole. Aninner periphery face 80B of the winding portion 80 is coupled to anouter periphery portion of the connection portion 90. Meanwhile, anouter periphery face 72A of the main body periphery wall portion 72 ofthe hub main body portion 70 is coupled to an inner periphery portion ofthe connection portion 90. The connection portion 90 supports thewinding portion 80 with respect to the main body periphery wall portion72. Specifically, the connection portion 90 includes an outer sideprotrusion portion 90A, an inner side protrusion portion 90B and a stepportion 90C. The outer side protrusion portion 90A protrudes to theradial direction inner side from the inner periphery face 80B of thewinding portion 80. The inner side protrusion portion 90B protrudes tothe radial direction outer side from the outer periphery face 72A of themain body periphery wall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70. Thestep portion 90C serves as a deformation absorption portion thatconnects the outer side protrusion portion 90A with the inner sideprotrusion portion 90B.

The outer side protrusion portion 90A protrudes to the radial directioninner side from a central portion in the up-and-down direction of theinner periphery face 80B of the winding portion 80. That is, theconnection portion 90 supports the axial direction central portion ofthe winding portion 80 with respect to the main body periphery wallportion 72 of the hub main body portion 70. An upper face and lower faceof the outer side protrusion portion 90A are welding surfaces that arewelded to the pair of the upper flange 14 and the lower flange 16,respectively.

A tubular lower tube portion 17, which extends upward, is integrallyformed at an inner periphery edge portion of the lower flange 16. Thelower tube portion 17 is fitted into the interior of the winding portion80 from the lower end of the winding portion 80. A protrusion portion 35is formed at an upper end portion of the lower tube portion 17. Theprotrusion portion 35 protrudes in an annular shape to the radialdirection inner side. As shown in FIG. 2, a plural number of energydirectors (referred to as EDs hereinafter) 42 are protrudingly providedat an upper face of the protrusion portion 35 to serve as welding beads.

The plural EDs 42 are provided in two rows spaced apart by apredetermined distance in the radial direction and are spaced bypredetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Thus, awelding area may be increased and ultrasonic oscillation energy forwelding the EDs 42 efficiently transmitted to the EDs 42. The ultrasonicoscillation energy is provided to the EDs 42 in a state in which the EDs42 are abutted against the lower face of the outer side protrusionportion 90A of the connection portion 90, and the EDs 42 are welded.Thus, the upper face of the protrusion portion 35 is welded to the lowerface of the outer side protrusion portion 90A.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the upper face of the protrusion portion 35 iswelded to the lower face of the outer side protrusion portion 90A, thelower flange 16 is supported at the hub main body portion 70 in a stateof protruding to the radial direction outer side from a lower end face80L of the winding portion 80. An upper face 16U of the lower flange 16is abutted against the lower end face 80L of the winding portion 80, andthe lower flange 16 is supported by the lower end face 80L. Thus,deformation of the winding portion 80 and the lower flange 16 by awinding pressure F of the recording tape T is suppressed.

Similarly, a tubular upper tube portion 15, which extends downward, isintegrally formed at an inner periphery edge portion of the upper flange14. The upper tube portion 15 is fitted into the interior of the windingportion 80 from the upper end of the winding portion 80. A protrusionportion 33 is formed at a lower end portion of the upper tube portion15. The protrusion portion 33 protrudes in an annular shape to theradial direction inner side. Similarly to the lower tube portion 17 ofthe lower flange 16, a plural number of EDs, which are not shown in thedrawings, are protrudingly provided at a lower face of the protrusionportion 33. By these EDs being welded to an upper face of the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A of the connection portion 90, the upper flange 14is supported at the hub main body portion 70 in a state of protruding tothe radial direction outer side from an upper end face 80U of thewinding portion 80. A lower face 14L of the upper flange 14 is abuttedagainst the upper end face 80U of the winding portion 80, and the upperflange 14 is supported by the upper end face 80U. Thus, deformation ofthe winding portion 80 and the upper flange 14 by the winding pressure Fof the recording tape T is suppressed. In this exemplary embodiment, theupper flange 14 and the lower flange 16 have the same shapes.

The step portion 90C is formed at an inner periphery portion of theouter side protrusion portion 90A. The step portion 90C causes the innerside protrusion portion 90B to be disposed at the side at which theopening 76 of the hub main body portion 70 (of the main body peripherywall portion 72) is disposed (one axial direction side) relative to theouter side protrusion portion 90A. The step portion 90C that serves asthe deformation absorption portion is formed in a tubular shape, andextends downward from the inner periphery portion of the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A through the interior of the protrusion portion 35of the lower flange 16. Thus, the step portion 90C is protruded towardthe side at which the opening 76 of the hub main body portion 70 isdisposed relative to the outer side protrusion portion 90A. The stepportion 90C is disposed to be spaced a distance apart from the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70. As shown inFIG. 4, the step portion 90C extends in an annular shape along the outerperiphery face 72A of the main body periphery wall portion 72.

As shown in FIG. 5, an outer periphery portion of the inner sideprotrusion portion 90B is joined to a lower periphery portion of thestep portion 90C. The inner side protrusion portion 90B is formed in anannular shape and protrudes to the radial direction outer side from alower end portion 72L (the opening 76 side end portion) of the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70. That is, theinner side protrusion portion 90B is connected with the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 at a position that is offset relative to thecap portion 74 in the axial direction of the main body periphery wallportion 72. The step portion 90C is supported by the inner sideprotrusion portion 90B to be tiltable to the main body periphery wallportion 72 side. A groove portion 92 extending in an annular shape isformed between the main body periphery wall portion 72 and the stepportion 90C. A deformation space (tilting space) for the step portion90C is assured by this groove portion 92.

A joining portion (coupling portion) 90D between the step portion 90Cand the inner side protrusion portion 90B is disposed at the downwardside relative to the lower end face 80L of the winding portion 80. Thus,an axial direction height (length) L of the step portion 90C is securedto be tall.

Now, operation of the first exemplary embodiment is described.

According to the reel 10 relating to the present exemplary embodiment,as shown in FIG. 5, the accommodation portion S is formed in theinterior of the main body periphery wall portion 72 of the hub main bodyportion 70. Because the motor 18 that drives to rotate the hub main bodyportion 70 is accommodated in this accommodation portion S, the casing52 of the drive device 50 may be made thin in a thickness directionthereof.

However, because the accommodation portion S is formed in the interiorof the hub main body portion 70, when the outer periphery face 80A ofthe winding portion 80 is pressed by the winding pressure F of therecording tape T to the side where the main body periphery wall portion72 of the hub main body portion 70 is disposed, the cap portion 74 ofthe main body portion 70 is susceptible to be inflectingly deformed suchthat the cap portion 74 protrudes upward as shown by the two-dot chainlines. If the cap portion 74 were inflectingly deformed thus, thewinding portion 80 might be displaced downward relative to the axialdirection positioning surface 78A formed at the boss portion 78 of thecap portion 74 (see FIG. 3). Consequently, there is likely to be achange in a running position of the recording tape T within the casing52 of the drive device 50, offset winding of the recording tape Trelative to the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion 80, orthe like. Moreover, is the radial direction positioning hole 40 formedat the boss portion 78 were deformed, the hub main body portion 70 mighttilt relative to the rotary shaft of the motor 18, not shown in thedrawings, and, similarly to the above description, there is likely to bea running position change of the recording tape T within the casing 52of the drive device 50, offset winding of the recording tape T relativeto the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion 80, or the like.

However, in the present exemplary embodiment, the step portion 90C isformed in the connection portion 90 that connects the hub main bodyportion 70 with the winding portion 80. Because of the step portion 90C,the inner side protrusion portion 90B of the connection portion 90 isdisposed to the side at which the lower end portion 72L of the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 is disposed relative to the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A. Consequently, when the outer periphery face 80Aof the winding portion 80 is pressed to the main body periphery wallportion 72 side thereof by the winding pressure F of the recording tapeT, the upper end portion of the step portion 90C is pressed to the mainbody periphery wall portion 72 side thereof via the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A of the connection portion 90. If the pressingforce pressing the upper end portion of the step portion 90C to the mainbody periphery wall portion 72 side is at least a certain value, thestep portion 90C resiliently deforms so as to tilt to the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 side thereof, with the joining portion 90Dbetween the step portion 90C and the inner side protrusion portion 90Bacting as a fulcrum, and the winding portion 80 is displaced to the mainbody periphery wall portion 72 side thereof. Therefore, deformation ofthe main body periphery wall portion 72 to the radial direction innerside thereof is suppressed, and consequently deformation of the capportion 74 of the hub main body portion 70 is suppressed. As a result, arunning position change of the recording tape T within the casing 52 ofthe drive device 50 is suppressed, and offset winding of the recordingtape T relative to the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion80 is suppressed.

Further, when the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion 80 ispressed to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof by thewinding pressure F of the recording tape T, each of the upper end face80U side and the lower end face 80L side of the winding portion 80flexes to the hub main body portion 70 side thereof with the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A of the connection portion 90 acting as a fulcrum.In the present exemplary embodiment, the outer side protrusion portion90A of the connection portion 90 protrudes to the radial direction innerside from the axial direction central portion of the winding portion 80.That is, the axial direction central portion of the winding portion 80is supported at the hub main body portion 70 via the connection portion90. Therefore, when the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion80 is pressed to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side by thewinding pressure F of the recording tape T, each of the upper end face80U side and the lower end face 80L side of the winding portion 80flexes to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof with theaxial direction central portion of the winding portion 80 acting as thefulcrum. As a result, an imbalance in flexing amounts at the upper endface 80U side and the lower end face 80L side of the winding portion 80is reduced. Thus, offset winding of the recording tape T toward oneaxial direction side of the winding portion 80 (upward or downward) issuppressed.

The inner side protrusion portion 90B of the connection portion 90protrudes to the radial direction outer side from the lower end portion72L (the opening 76 side end portion) of the main body periphery wallportion 72. Thus, when the outer periphery face 80A of the windingportion 80 is pressed to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side bya winding pressure F of the recording tape T of at least a certainvalue, the step portion 90C is resiliently deformed to the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 side thereof with the joining portion 90D,which is disposed at the opening 76 side of the main body periphery wallportion 72 and is disposed between the step portion 90C and the innerside protrusion portion 90B, acting as the fulcrum.

Note that, when the winding portion 80 presses the main body peripherywall portion 72 to the radial direction inner side thereof via theconnection portion 90, a moment M₁ (hereinafter referred to as the innerside moment) acts on the main body periphery wall portion 72. The innerside moment M₁ causes the main body periphery wall portion 72 to tilt tothe radial direction inner side with an upper end portion 72U of themain body periphery wall portion 72 (a joining portion thereof with thecap portion 74) acting as a fulcrum. However, when the step portion 90Cresiliently deforms as described above, a moment M₂ (hereinafterreferred to as the outer side moment) acts on the main body peripherywall portion 72. The outer side moment M₂ causes the main body peripherywall portion 72 to tilt to the radial direction outer side (the windingportion 80 side) thereof with the upper end portion 72U acting as afulcrum. The inner side moment M₁ is counteracted by the outer sidemoment M₂. Therefore, deformation of the main body periphery wallportion 72 to the radial direction inner side is further suppressed.

Furthermore, the inner side protrusion portion 90B protrudes to theradial direction outer side from the lower end portion 72L of the mainbody periphery wall portion 72. Therefore, compared to a structure inwhich the inner side protrusion portion 90B protrudes to the radialdirection outer side from a position that is offset upward (toward thecap portion 74 side) from the lower end portion 72L of the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72, the height L of the step portion 90C in theaxial direction of the main body periphery wall portion 72 may besecured tall, while the thickness of the reel 10 as a whole in the axialdirection being reduced. Because the height L of the step portion 90C inthe axial direction of the main body periphery wall portion 72 is tall,the step portion 90C more easily resiliently deforms to the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 side thereof with the joining portion 90D withthe inner side protrusion portion 90B acting as the fulcrum. Therefore,deformation of the main body periphery wall portion 72 to the radialdirection inner side is further suppressed.

In particular, the joining portion 90D between the step portion 90C andthe inner side protrusion portion 90B is disposed at the downward siderelative to the lower end face 80L of the winding portion 80. Therefore,compared with a structure in which the joining portion 90D between thestep portion 90C and the inner side protrusion portion 90B is disposedat the upward side relative to the lower end face 80L of the windingportion 80, the axial direction height L of the step portion 90C may besecured taller. Thus, when the outer periphery face 80A of the windingportion 80 is pressed to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side bythe winding pressure F of the recording tape T, the moment that acts onthe step portion 90C is larger. Therefore, the step portion 90C moreeasily resiliently deforms to the main body periphery wall portion 72side.

In addition, the step portion 90C extends in the annular shape along theouter periphery face 72A of the main body periphery wall portion 72 ofthe hub main body portion 70. Therefore, when the outer periphery face80A of the winding portion 80 is pressed to the main body periphery wallportion 72 side by the winding pressure F of the recording tape T, thestep portion 90C deforms to the main body periphery wall portion 72 sideuniformly over the whole circumference of the main body periphery wallportion 72. Thus, the deformation of the main body periphery wallportion 72 to the radial direction inner side is suppressed over thewhole periphery of the main body periphery wall portion 72.

Moreover, because the upper flange 14 and the lower flange 16 have thesame shape (symmetry with respect to a horizontal direction), a singledie is sufficient for fabricating the upper flange 14 and the lowerflange 16. Thus, compared to a structure in which the shapes of theupper flange 14 and the lower flange 16 are different and a die for theupper flange 14 and a die for the lower flange 16 are separatelyrequired, fabrication costs of the reel 10 may be reduced.

In the first exemplary embodiment described hereabove, an example isillustrated in which the inner side protrusion portion 90B of theconnection portion 90 protrudes to the radial direction outer side fromthe lower end portion 72L of the main body periphery wall portion 72 ofthe hub main body portion 70, but this is not limiting. It is sufficientthat the inner side protrusion portion 90B of the connection portion 90be disposed at a position that is offset in the up-and-down direction(the axial direction) relative to the outer side protrusion portion 90Aof the connection portion 90. For example, the inner side protrusionportion 90B may protrude to the radial direction outer side from aportion of the outer periphery face 72A of the main body periphery wallportion 72 that is between the outer side protrusion portion 90A and thelower end portion 72L of the main body periphery wall portion 72.

Next, a second exemplary embodiment is described. Herein, structuresthat are the same as in the above-described first exemplary embodimentare assigned the same reference symbols and descriptions are omitted asappropriate.

In the first exemplary embodiment, an example is illustrated in whichthe inner side protrusion portion 90B of the connection portion 90protrudes to the radial direction outer side from the lower end portion72L of the main body periphery wall portion 72 of the hub main bodyportion 70, but this is not limiting. For example, as shown in FIG. 6,the step portion 90C of the connection portion 90 may be extended upwardfrom an inner periphery portion of the outer side protrusion portion90A, and the inner side protrusion portion 90B disposed at the upwardside (the axial direction other side) relative to the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A. Specifically, the inner side protrusion portion90B protrudes to the radial direction outer side from the upper end sideof the main body periphery wall portion 72, and the outer peripheryportion of the inner side protrusion portion 90B is joined to an upperend portion of the step portion 90C.

Therefore, when the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion 80is pressed to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof bythe winding pressure F of the recording tape T, a lower end portion ofthe step portion 90C is pressed, via the outer side protrusion portion90A, to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof. Further,when the pressure force pressing the lower end portion of the stepportion 90C to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side is at leasta certain value, the step portion 90C is resiliently deformed so as totilt to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof, with thejoining portion 90D between the step portion 90C and the inner sideprotrusion portion 90B acting as the fulcrum, and the winding portion 80is displaced to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof.Thus, the same operations and effects as in the first exemplaryembodiment may be provided.

Because the inner side protrusion portion 90B is disposed at the side atwhich the cap portion 74 of the hub main body portion 70 is disposedrelative to the outer side protrusion portion 90A, the structure of thelower end portion 72L side of the main body periphery wall portion 72 issimplified. Hence, the reel 10 is easier to accommodate in the casing 52of the drive device 50.

Now, a third exemplary embodiment is described. Structures that are thesame as in the above-described first and second exemplary embodimentsare assigned the same reference symbols and descriptions are omitted asappropriate.

In the first and second exemplary embodiments, examples are illustratedin which the step portion 90C is formed in the connection portion 90that connects the hub main body portion 70 with the winding portion 80,but this is not limiting. For example, as in the third exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 7, a recess portion 100 may be formed in theconnection portion 90 instead of the step portion 90C.

Specifically, the inner side protrusion portion 90B protrudes to theradial direction outer side from an axial direction central portion ofthe main body periphery wall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70.Thus, the inner side protrusion portion 90B is disposed at the radialdirection inner side of the outer side protrusion portion 90A. The innerside protrusion portion 90B and the outer side protrusion portion 90Aare connected by the recess portion 100. The recess portion 100 forms arecess shape, relative to the inner side protrusion portion 90B and theouter side protrusion portion 90A, toward the side thereof at which theopening 76 of the hub main body portion 70 (the main body periphery wallportion 72) is disposed. This recess portion 100 includes an outerperiphery wall portion 100A and an inner periphery wall portion 100B, ina pair opposing one another in the radial direction of the windingportion 80, and a floor portion 100C, which joins lower end portions ofthe outer periphery wall portion 100A and the inner periphery wallportion 100B with one another.

In this case, when the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion80 is pressed to the main body periphery wall portion 72 side thereof bythe winding pressure F of the recording tape T, an upper end portion ofthe outer periphery wall portion 100A of the recess portion 100 ispressed, via the outer side protrusion portion 90A of the connectionportion 90, to the inner periphery wall portion 100B side thereof.Further, when the pressure force pressing the upper end portion of theouter periphery wall portion 100A to the inner periphery wall portion100B side is at least a certain value, the outer periphery wall portion100A is resiliently deformed so as to tilt to the inner periphery wallportion 100B side thereof with a joining portion 100D between the outerperiphery wall portion 100A and the floor portion 100C acting as afulcrum, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in the drawing, and thewinding portion 80 is displaced to the main body periphery wall portion72 side thereof. Thus, the same operations and effects as in the firstexemplary embodiment may be provided.

In the third exemplary embodiment, an example is illustrated in whichthe recess portion 100 forms a recess shape toward the side at which theopening 76 of the hub main body portion 70 is disposed relative to theinner side protrusion portion 90B and the outer side protrusion portion90A, but this is not limiting. For example, a form is possible in whichthe recess shape is formed toward the side at which the cap portion 74of the hub main body portion 70 is disposed relative to the inner sideprotrusion portion 90B and the outer side protrusion portion 90A.

Further, in the third exemplary embodiment an example is illustrated inwhich the inner side protrusion portion 90B is disposed at the radialdirection inner side of the outer side protrusion portion 90A. However,the inner side protrusion portion 90B may be disposed at a position thatis offset in the up-and-down direction (the axial direction) relative tothe outer side protrusion portion 90A.

The step portion 90C of the first and second exemplary embodimentsdescribed above corresponds to a wall-shaped portion that is disposedbetween the winding portion 80 and the main body periphery wall portion72 with a length direction thereof in the axial direction of the mainbody periphery wall portion 72, an upper end portion (one lengthdirection end side) of the step portion 90C being connected to thewinding portion 80 via the outer side protrusion portion 90A and a lowerend portion (the other length direction end side) being connected to themain body periphery wall portion 72 via the inner side protrusionportion 90B.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments described above, examplesare illustrated in which the outer side protrusion portion 90A of theconnection portion 90 protrudes to the radial direction inner side fromthe axial direction central portion of the winding portion 80, but thisis not limiting. The outer side protrusion portion 90A may protrude tothe radial direction inner side from a portion of the winding portion 80that is offset in the up-and-down direction (the axial direction) fromthe axial direction central portion.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments described above, examplesare illustrated in which the radial direction positioning hole 40 andthe axial direction positioning surface 78A that serve as positioningportions are formed at the boss portion 78 of the cap portion 74 of thehub main body portion 70, but this is not limiting. Positions and shapesof the radial direction positioning hole 40 and the axial directionpositioning surface 78A may be modified as appropriate. Moreover, one orboth of the radial direction positioning hole 40 and the axial directionpositioning surface 78A may be formed at the cap portion 74.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments described above, examplesare illustrated in which the motor 18 is accommodated in theaccommodation portion S formed in the hub main body portion 70, but thisis not limiting. A rotary driving component for driving to rotate thereel 10 and various wires and the like may be accommodated in theaccommodation portion S.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments described above, examplesare illustrated in which the upper face and lower face of the outer sideprotrusion portion 90A of the connection portion 90 are welded to theupper flange 14 and lower flange 16 that serve as a pair of flangeportions, but this is not limiting. For example, penetrating holes maybe formed in the outer side protrusion portion 90A of the connectionportion 90 and portions of the upper flange 14 and the lower flange 16directly coupled through these penetrating holes.

Specifically, as in a fourth exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8, apenetrating hole 30 is formed in the outer side protrusion portion 90Aof the connection portion 90. Correspondingly, projection portions 46and 48, which serve as insertion portions to be inserted into thepenetrating hole 30, are formed at, respectively, the lower face of theprotrusion portion 33 of the upper flange 14 and the upper face of theprotrusion portion 35 of the lower flange 16. The projection portions 46and 48 are inserted into the penetrating hole 30 from mutually oppositedirections. A screw boss portion 66 that is formed at the projectionportion 48 is fitted into a fitting hole 64 that is formed in theprojection portion 46. A screw hole 49 is formed in the protrusionportion 33 in communication with the fitting hole 64. A screw 62 isscrewed through this screw hole 49 into the screw boss portion 66. Thus,the protrusion portion 33 of the upper flange 14 and the protrusionportion 35 of the lower flange 16 are directly coupled.

Because the protrusion portion 33 of the upper flange 14 and theprotrusion portion 35 of the lower flange 16 are directly coupled viaeach penetrating hole 30 formed in the outer side protrusion portion 90Aof the connection portion 90, the upper flange 14 and the lower flange16 may be assembled to the reel hub 12 to be incapable of relativerotation. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide rotationprevention means at the reel hub 12, the upper flange 14 and the lowerflange 16, or the like, for disabling relative rotation of the upperflange 14 and the lower flange 16 with respect to the reel hub 12. Thus,compared with a structure in which rotation prevention means are formedat the reel hub 12, the upper flange 14 and the lower flange 16, or thelike, the structures of dies for molding the reel hub 12, the upperflange 14 and the lower flange 16 may be simplified. Therefore,fabrication costs of dies and the like may be reduced.

In the structure shown in FIG. 8, an example is illustrated in which theprotrusion portion 33 of the upper flange 14 and the protrusion portion35 of the lower flange 16 are coupled by the screw 62, but this is notlimiting. For example, the protrusion portion 33 of the upper flange 14and the protrusion portion 35 of the lower flange 16 may be welded usingEDs or the like.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments described above, examplesare illustrated in which the reel 10 is disposed with the rotation axisdirection thereof in the up-and-down direction, but this is notlimiting. For example, the reel 10 may be disposed with the rotationaxis direction in a horizontal direction.

Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the reels 10 and 20according to the present exemplary embodiment may also be employed inrecording tape cartridges in which only one reel is accommodated in thecasing 52.

Next, results of a deformation simulation of the reel are described.

In this deformation simulation, deformation simulations of reels areconducted using reels relating to Examples 1 to 6 and a reel relating toa Comparative Example.

FIG. 9A shows a basic model for analytical models relating to Examples 1to 5, and FIG. 9B shows an analytical model relating to Example 6.Example 1 to Example 5 are analytical models corresponding to the reel10 shown in FIG. 5, and Example 6 is an analytical model correspondingto the variant example of the reel 10 shown in FIG. 6. In Example 1 toExample 5, the height L of the step portion 90C (see FIG. 5) differs asshown in Table 1 below. Table 1 represents the height L of the stepportion 90C as a positive value measured downward by reference from theaxial direction central portion of the winding portion 80.

FIG. 10 shows an analytical model relating to the Comparative Example.In this Comparative Example, the step portion is not formed at theconnection portion 90; the lower end portion 72L of the main bodyperiphery wall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70 is connectedwith the axial direction central portion of the winding portion 80 by aflat plate-shaped connection portion 110.

In the analytical models relating to Examples 1 to 6 and the ComparativeExample, a uniformly distributed load simulating a winding pressure F ofa recording tape on the outer periphery face 80A of the winding portion80 is inputted toward the side thereof at which the main body peripherywall portion 72 of the hub main body portion 70 is disposed. In theanalytical models, a displacement amount dy(a) of an outer peripheryedge 74A of the cap portion 74 in the up-and-down direction (the axialdirection) and a displacement amount dy(b) of an inner periphery edge ofthe upper end face 80U of the winding portion 80 in the up-and-downdirection (the axial direction) are found by analysis. In the analyticalmodels relating to Examples 1 to 6, conditions of support of the axialdirection positioning surface 78A are constant.

The analysis results are shown in the following Table 1 and in FIG. 11.Herein, the displacement amount dy(a) of the outer periphery edge 74A ofthe cap portion 74 and the displacement amount dy(b) of the upper endface 80U of the winding portion 80 are represented as positive values inthe downward direction and negative values in the upward direction byreference to, respectively, un-deformed positions of the outer peripheryedge 74A of the cap portion 74 and the inner periphery edge of the upperend face 80U of the winding portion 80.

TABLE 1 Height Displacement amount of step Displacement amount dy(b) ofupper end face portion dy(a) of outer periphery of winding portion L(mm) edge of cap portion (μm) (μm) Example 1 10.0 −4 17 Example 2 8.0−16 5 Example 3 6.5 −36 −18 Example 4 5.7 −49 −36 Example 5 5.0 −65 −58Example 6 −8.0 −70 −88 Com- 0.0 −134 −158 parative Example

As can be seen in Table 1 and FIG. 11, in the analytical models relatingto Examples 1 to 6, the absolute values of the displacement amount dy(a)of the outer periphery edge 74A of the cap portion 74 are all smallerthan in the analytical model relating to the Comparative Example. Thisis thought to be because, in the analytical models relating to Examples1 to 6, the winding pressure F of the recording tape T that reaches thecap portion 74 of the hub main body portion 70 is reduced by theresilient deformation of the step portion 90C.

It can also be seen that, in the analytical models relating to Examples1 to 6, the absolute values of the displacement amount dy(b) of theupper end face 80U of the winding portion 80 are all smaller than in theanalytical model relating to the Comparative Example. This is thought tobe because, in the analytical models relating to Examples 1 to 6,flexing deformation of the upper end face 80U side of the windingportion 80 is absorbed by the step portion 90C resiliently deforming andthe winding portion 80 displacing to the hub main body portion 70 sidethereof. Thus, deformation of the upper flange 14 is suppressed bydeformation of the upper end face 80U side of the winding portion 80being suppressed, as a result of which offset winding of the recordingtape T in accordance with deformation of the upper flange 14 issuppressed. Although not included in the analyses, deformation of thelower end face 80L of the winding portion 80 is reduced similarly to theupper end face 80U of the winding portion 80.

As can be seen from the analysis results of the analytical modelsrelating to Examples 1 to 5, the absolute values of the displacementamount dy(a) of the outer periphery edge 74A of the cap portion 74 andthe displacement amount dy(b) of the upper end face 80U of the windingportion 80 become smaller as the height L of the step portion 90Cincreases. Therefore, the effect of suppression in regard todeformations of the cap portion 74 of the hub main body portion 70 andof the winding portion 80 may be improved by increasing the height L ofthe step portion 90C.

The disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-082922 areincorporated into the present specification by reference in theirentirety.

All references, patent applications and technical specifications citedin the present specification are incorporated by reference into thepresent specification to the same extent as if the individualreferences, patent applications and technical specifications werespecifically and individually recited as being incorporated byreference.

Hereabove, the present invention has been described in accordance withthe first to third exemplary embodiments, but the present invention isnot limited by these exemplary embodiments. The first to third exemplaryembodiments and various variant examples may be used in suitablecombinations, and it will be clear that numerous modes may be embodiedwithin a technical scope not departing from the spirit of the presentinvention.

1. A reel comprising: a hub main body portion that includes a main bodyperiphery wall portion formed in a tubular shape and a cap portionprovided at one side in an axial direction of the main body peripherywall portion; a winding portion that is formed in a tubular shape,inside which the main body periphery wall portion is disposed, and on anouter periphery face of which a recording tape is wound; a connectionportion that protrudes to a radial direction inner side from an innerperiphery face of the winding portion and that connects the windingportion with an outer periphery face of the main body periphery wallportion; and a deformation absorption portion that is formed at theconnection portion and that, by resiliently deforming, displaces thewinding portion to a side thereof at which the main body periphery wallportion is disposed.
 2. The reel according to claim 1, wherein theconnection portion is connected with the main body periphery wallportion at a position that is offset relative to the cap portion in theaxial direction of the main body periphery wall portion.
 3. The reelaccording to claim 1, wherein the connection portion includes: an outerside protrusion portion that protrudes to the radial direction innerside from the inner periphery face of the winding portion, and an innerside protrusion portion that protrudes to the radial direction outerside from the outer periphery face of the main body periphery wallportion, and the deformation absorption portion is a step portion atwhich the inner side protrusion portion is disposed to one side in theaxial direction of the main body periphery wall portion relative to theouter side protrusion portion.
 4. The reel according to claim 3,wherein, at the step portion, the inner side protrusion portion isdisposed at a side at which an opening of the main body periphery wallportion is disposed relative to the outer side protrusion portion. 5.The reel according to claim 4, wherein the inner side protrusion portionprotrudes to the radial direction outer side from an end portion of themain body periphery wall portion at the side thereof at which theopening is disposed.
 6. The reel according to claim 3, wherein, at thestep portion, the inner side protrusion portion is disposed at the sideat which the cap portion is disposed relative to the outer sideprotrusion portion.
 7. The reel according to claim 1, wherein theconnection portion includes: an outer side protrusion portion thatprotrudes to the radial direction inner side from the inner peripheryface of the winding portion, and an inner side protrusion portion thatprotrudes to the radial direction outer side from the outer peripheryface of the main body periphery wall portion, and the deformationabsorption portion is a wall-shaped portion that is disposed between thewinding portion and the main body peripheral wall portion with a lengthdirection of the deformation absorption portion along the axialdirection of the main body periphery wall portion, one end side in thelength direction of the deformation absorption portion being connectedto the winding portion via the outer side protrusion portion, and theother end side in the length direction being connected to the main bodyperiphery wall portion via the inner side protrusion portion.
 8. Thereel according to claim 3, wherein the outer side protrusion portionprotrudes to the radial direction inner side from a central portion inan axial direction of the winding portion.
 9. The reel according toclaim 3, wherein the deformation absorption portion extends in anannular shape along the outer periphery face of the main body peripherywall portion.
 10. The reel according to claim 1, wherein a positioningportion that positions the hub main body portion relative to a casingthat accommodates the hub main body portion is formed at the capportion.
 11. The reel according to claim 1, wherein an accommodationportion that accommodates a motor that drives to rotate the hub mainbody portion is formed inside the main body periphery wall portion. 12.The reel according to claim 3, wherein: the reel further comprises anupper flange and a lower flange, and each of the upper and lower flangesis provided with a tube portion and a protrusion portion at an innerside in a radial direction of the upper flange or the lower flange; thetube portion of the upper flange is extended downwards from an innerperipheral edge portion of the upper flange, and the protrusion portionis protruded to an inner side in the radial direction from a lower endof the tube portion of the upper flange; the tube portion of the lowerflange is extended upwards from an inner peripheral edge portion of thelower flange, and the protrusion portion is protruded to an inner sidein the radial direction from an upper end of the tube portion of thelower flange; each of the inner peripheral edge portions of the upperflange and the lower flange is abutted to an upper end face of thewinding portion or a lower end face of the winding portion; each of thetube portions of the upper flange and the lower flange is fit to theinner periphery face of the winding portion; each of the protrusionportions of the upper flange and lower flange is abutted to an upper endface or a lower end face of the outer side protrusion portion; and theupper and lower flanges are supported by the upper end face and thelower end face of the winding portion.
 13. The reel according to claim12, wherein each of the protrusion portions of the upper flange andlower flange is connected to the upper end face or the lower end face ofthe outer side protrusion portion; and the upper and lower flanges aresupported at the hub main body portion.